News Corporation announced today that Tom Mockridge, Chief Executive of
Sky Italia, has been appointed to the additional role of Chief
Executive, European Television.
In this new role, Mr. Mockridge will directly oversee the company´s
television operations in Europe, outside the UK. These include Sky
Italia, a minority investment in German pay TV operator Premiere and a
range of holdings in broadcasters in such territories as Bulgaria
Poland and Turkey. The announcement does not affect British Sky
Broadcasting, in which News Corp holds a 39% shareholding. Mr. Mockridge
will continue to serve as Chief Executive of Sky Italia and will
continue to report to James Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive, News
Corporation Europe and Asia.
Marty Pompadur, Executive Vice President of News Corp and Chairman of
News Corp Europe, who has played a leading role in developing the company´s
activities in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia, has chosen to focus
on overseeing the company´s radio ventures in
Russia and its outdoor advertising business. He will also serve as an
advisor to the company.
Mr. Murdoch said:
"Tom has led Sky Italia to become one of the
world´s most successful pay-TV businesses, now
with more than 4.5 million customers. Tom will extend his successful
stewardship of Sky Italia to develop our European broadcast operations
across the territory.
Marty has played a vital role in building our broadcast and outdoor
advertising network. He is a true pioneer and I am delighted to continue
to call on him as we develop the business."
News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total
assets as of March 31, 2008 of approximately US$62 billion and total
annual revenues of approximately US$32 billion. News Corporation is a
diversified entertainment company with operations in eight industry
segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network programming;
direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts; newspapers
and information services; book publishing; and other. The activities of
News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States
Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Basin.